m There were Warren and Prescot, and the brave Yankee yeomen: They mow'd down whole ranks like grass in the field. When their powder was gone, why, they beat down their foemen With the buts of their guns, still disdaining to yield! In the year seventy-six came the two noble brothers And our troops, though indignant, step by step forced to fly; Then our Congress declared we were free and independent, On the ever, ever glorious Fourth of July! Then huzza! &c. Great Washington, then, like his own native eagle, From the hill-tops look'd down on these vultures and crows: Jove's bird! arm'd by Heaven with power more than regal, Descended in thunder! and pounced on his foes; Through the snows of December he push'd into Trenton: Cross'd the Delaware midst ice and the storm's surly moan; Gallant Rahl and his Germans were the prey he was bent on, And they fell bravely fighting in a cause not their own. The month not yet ended, when Washington again, sirs, Shone resplendent in arms, and his foes fled with shame; "Twas at Princeton he found them a full, open plain, sirs, And charged like a Mars leading victory and fame! The year seventy-seven crown'd the labours of Schuyler, When Burgoyne and his army surrender'd to Gates; And Britain found that Yankees at all points could foil her, And her stars shone unclouded through the United States. Then huzza! &c. Of the many gallant actions and heroes who fell, sirs, Should I here make record, time and patience would fail, And my song to a volume in folio would swell, sirs, Felt his hardest day's march, and so sore and so hot; And Washington again gave the red-coats a beating, Till their ships gave them shelter from the damn'd rebel shot! Then huzza! &c. It is very well known, in the famous year eighty, How Sumpter, and Morgan, and Green led the field; Their acts were a prelude to one more still weighty, Which forced haughty Britain the contest to yield, I mean that at Yorktown, where noble Cornwallis And Britain paid the price of her injustice and follies, And Washington could say, "Now my labours are done." Then huzza, &c. We are now, sirs, at war with the same haughty nation; Our wrongs to redress and our rights to maintain; Each son of Columbia will soon find his station, And Europe be taught to respect us again. Here's success to our navy, here's success to our army; Here's success to the rulers and statesmen all round; All Europe united in arms cannot harm ye, While true Yankee hearts in your bosoms are found! Then huzza, &c. On the nineteenth of August, in the present blessed year, sirs, Our brave Captain Hull met the Guerriere so proud: Stout Dacres, her commander, who had never yet known fear, sirs, Bade his merry men stand by and his three ensigns show'd. But our good Constitution and our brave Yankee seamen In less than forty minutes forced the Englishmen to strike; All her masts by the board show'd our guns were served by freemen, And the oldest English tar swore he'd never seen the like! Then huzza, &c. The following is from the Musical Almanac of 1842, published in Boston. ORIGIN OF YANKEE DOODLE.-This tune has so long been considered as national property, that most persons have supposed it purely American in its origin. Yet, so far as we can learn, this is not the fact. It appears that, previous to the time of Charles I., an air, somewhat similar to the one in question, was common among the peasantry of England, of which the following is a copy. This air, during the time of Cromwell, was set to various ditties in ridicule of the Protector. One of these began with the words, "THE ROUNDHEADS AND THE CAVALIERS." Another set of words were called "NANKEE DOODLE," and has throughout a striking resemblance to some of the popu lar stanzas, which were common in the American colonies from the time of their origin, to the Revolution, and in some sections of the country even to the present day. The song, "Lydia Locket," or "Lucy Locket," has been sung to the same tune from time immemorial. This air seems to have been the foundation of Yankee Doodle. During the French war of 1755, the provincial army, sent against Niagara and Frontenac, was commanded by Governor Shirley of Massachusetts, and General Johnston of New York. Through the early part of the season the army lay encamped on the Hudson, a little below Albany. While the troops were in this position, they were continually receiving recruits from the New England states in the form of drafts and volunteers. They came in, company after company, just as they had issued from their farms and firesides, and their appearance is said to have equalled any specimen of the ludicrous ever exhibited, save and except the famous company of Sir John Falstaff. Some of them had long hair, some had short, and some wore enormous wigs. Some had black suits, some had blue, and some had gray. Some had long coats, some had short ones, and some had no coats at all. Their accoutrements were equally varied, and all together furnished the most grotesque and amusing spectacle, that can well be imagined, and abundance of sport for the British Regulars. The music played by the volunteers was such as had been out of date in the British army for centuries, and assisted finely to add point to the amusement afforded by the whole scene. In the British army at that time, was one Doctor Shackburg, a surgeon, who was a skilful musician and a great wag. The doctor immediately turned his attention to the Yankee volunteers, and determined to pass off a joke by composing a tune for their particular use. He accordingly remodelled the air of "Nankee Doodle," called it "Yankee Doodle," and with all the gravity imaginable recommended it to the new-comers, as one of the most celebrated airs that his country had ever produced. The volunteers admired the tune; and notwithstanding the hearty laugh and noisy ridicule of the regulars, it soon became a general favourite through the whole American camp. Thus originated an air in pure levity and ridicule, which many a British soldier in a few years had cause to consider the knell of all his glory. The same soul-stirring strains were heard at a subsequent period on Bunker's Hill; the same on the plains of Yorktown; and the same strains will continue to warm the American heart, so long as music hath charms to inspire the breast and rouse the soul to action. 69 COME, YE LADS, WHO WISH TO SHINE. Written in 1812. Tune-"Yankee Doodle." COME, ye lads, who wish to shine Bright in future story, Haste to arms, and form the line That leads to martial glory. |